# Manx Primary Source Archive — Transcription

**Source image:** `20260219_101914.jpg`  
**Transcribed:** 2026-02-25 19:26  
**Method:** Automated (Claude Batch API — claude-opus-4-6)

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" Ordered, That it be an Inſtruction to the Committee, That they have Power to receive a Clauſe to enable the Lords Com-
" miſſioners of the Treaſury to treat and agree with the Earl of Derby and others for the Purchaſe of their Eſtate and Intereſt in the
" Iſle of Man for the Uſe of his Majeſty."

Accordingly, " *for the better Enabling his Majeſty to prevent Frauds and Abuſes in the Exporting or Importing Goods and Merchandizes*
" *to and from the Iſle of Man,*" a Clauſe was inſerted in the Act, authorizing the Commiſſioners of the Treaſury on behalf of his Ma-
jeſty, and *James* then Earl of *Derby,* and all other Perſons claiming under him or his Anceſtors, to treat and agree for the abſolute
Purchaſe, Sale, Releaſe, or Surrender to the Uſe of his Majeſty, of all or any their Eſtate and Intereſt in or to the ſaid Iſle or Lord-
ſhip, or in or to all or any Regalities, Honours, Superiorities, Juriſdictions, Rights, Privileges, Duties, *Cuſtoms, Revenues,*
Profits, or Advantages whatſoever, *in, over, or about the ſaid* Iſland of Man or its Dependencies, *upon ſuch Conditions as ſhould be*
thought fitting.

It was the Idea of theſe Times, that without ſuch a Purchaſe the Lords Rights could not be touched; and the Juſtice of the Legi-
ſlature reſtrained them from proceeding to deprive the Lord of his Privileges, Duties, Cuſtoms, Revenues, or other Profits whatſo-
ever, in, over, or about the Iſland, or within the Sea belonging to it, without firſt paying him for them.

In a few Years after the Act the laſt Duke of *Athol* died, and the *Iſle of Man* deſcended upon the late Duke of *Athol* by lineal De-
ſcent, as Heir General of *James* Lord *Stanley* ; and his Grace did Homage for it, and performed the perſonal Services at the laſt Co-
ronation.

Soon after his Grace's Acceſſion to the Iſle, ſome Overtures were made to him from the Treaſury for purchaſing it, which were
afterwards dropped, and again reſumed by Mr. *Pelham,* and afterwards by the Duke of *Newcaſtle,* as they *ſucceſſively* preſided at that
Board—The Duke of *Athol,* reluctant to ſell ſo antient and valuable a Patrimony, but at the ſame time ſubmitting to the Royal Plea-
ſure for the publick Accommodation, did not ſet his Price upon the Iſle, but treated with the moſt unlimited Confidence, and met
with as candid a Return; the Two noble Perſonages laſt-named having both aſſured him, that no Propoſals ſhould come from them
which they would not adjudge as Arbitrators to be a fair and honourable Equivalent; but
The Treaties proved ineffectual, not from any Act of the Duke, but they were dropped by the Treaſury.

The late Duke's Sincerity in treating appears from the Settlement he made, about the ſame time, of the Iſle and its Dependencies,
upon the preſent Duke and Ducheſs and their Iſſue; which, though a ſtrict Settlement in its Tenor, contains an expreſs Clauſe to en-
able the Truſtees to alien to the Crown (and to the Crown only) upon a valuable Conſideration.

On 8th Jan. The late Duke died, and the Iſland under his Grace's Settlement devolved upon the now Ducheſs his Daughter and only Child.
1764— The Houſe of Commons having in the laſt Seſſion addreſſed the Crown, to know what Proceedings had been had by the Trea-
ſury under the Act of 12 George I. towards the Purchaſe of the Iſland—The Treaſury, by his Majeſty's Commands, made their Re-
turn to the Houſe, informing them, that it appeared by the Books in their Office, that the Commiſſioners had ſeveral times ſince the
paſſing the Act endeavoured to ſet a Treaty on Foot for that Purpoſe with the Proprietor, and invited him to make Propoſals; but
that it did not appear what Proceedings had been had in conſequence thereof.

On the 25th of *July* laſt the Treaſury wrote to the Duke, informing him, that they were ready to treat with him for the Purchaſe
of the Iſle, or of ſuch Part of the Rights claimed by him in the Iſland as it ſhould be found expedient to veſt in the Crown, for
preventing the illicit Trade carried on between the Iſland and other Parts of his Majeſty's Dominions; and that they were ready to
receive a Propoſal from him for that Purpoſe, ſpecifying what Parts of his Grace's Property, and Rights of the Iſland, he was diſ-
poſed to ſell, and the Value he put upon them.

His Grace, who received this Letter in *Scotland,* by his Anſwer of the 29th of *Auguſt,* expreſſed his Ideas with regard to the Sale
of the Iſland to be the ſame with thoſe of the late Duke, who always declared, that no Temptation of Gain could induce him to
give up ſo antient and honourable a Birthright, which had been in the Family near Four Centuries; but that if it was eſteemed, upon
full Conſideration, an important Point for his Majeſty's Service and for the Good of the Publick, he was willing to enter into a
Treaty for the Diſpoſal of it—That as he had been but a few Months in Poſſeſſion of the Iſle, and never in the leaſt turned his
Thoughts towards a Sale of it, it was impoſſible for him to fix upon what he ſhould think an adequate Price for a Poſſeſſion ſo
very conſiderable both for Honour and Profit; and as he had never heard of any Notion to purchaſe a Part only, he did not under-
ſtand what it was, and could therefore have no Propoſal to make; but would always be ready to receive with Reſpect any Propoſal
which ſhould come to him from their Lordſhips.

To this their Lordſhips, on the 12th of *September,* replied, That not having an Opportunity of informing themſelves of the
Value of this Poſſeſſion, they could not fix upon a Price, which, as Truſtees to the Publick, they ſhould think themſelves authorized
to propoſe; but as his Grace had informed them, that when the Purchaſe of the Iſland was *on former Occaſions under Conſideration,*
the late Duke had given a true and preciſe State of the Nature of the Poſſeſſion, and of the Revenue ariſing from it; they therefore
deſired him, if he intended treating with them, to tranſmit them in like Manner,

An exact Rental of the Revenue, ſpecifying the ſeveral Kinds of which it conſiſted, and the annual Amount of each.

And with reſpect to *any Cuſtoms or Impoſt Duties* which his Grace might receive, the ſeveral Species of Goods on which levied,
the Rates at which paid, and the annual Amount of the *Duties* ariſing from each Species.

And their Lordſhips were pleaſed to add, that they muſt know the Nature as well as Value of every Branch of the Revenue of
the Iſland, before they could form any Judgment of the Price which ought to be paid for it, or could determine what Part of his

[right column, partially obscured:]

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Parliament is always juſt.

When the heritable Juriſdictions [obscured]
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